Checks for Obstruction of Road Signs by Tree Growth

Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether the regular tree inspections carried out by trained inspectors include checks on the obstruction of road signs due to the growth of trees; and (b) if not, how does the Ministry ensure that the growth of trees does not obstruct the visibility of the signs so as to ensure the safety of all road users.

The National Parks Board (NParks) manages over two million urban trees in Singapore’s parks, park connectors, state lands and along roads.

NParks’ trained arborists inspect trees once every six to 24 months and supervise the regular maintenance and pruning of trees. In doing so, the arborists would also check if any tree was obstructing the visibility of road signs and will carry out pruning so that road users can see the signs more clearly. To supplement these existing checks, NParks is also developing a visual tool which uses artificial intelligence to highlight tree foliage obstructing road signs.